Picture frame



Feb. 17, 1931.

H. L BUDD PICTURE FRAME- F'iled May 20, 1929 l NVENTOR Howard L. Budd TroRNl-:Y

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 .UMTS Tras HOWARD/L Bunn, or BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, AssiGNoR To FRIEDMAN Iivo.,` or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK;

JA.CoRPoitA'rmiv orl 'NEW vom; .v l

PICTURE nien-Mn l u Application led May 2G,

" lhisf invention relates to ornamental frames of the'type'adapted to hold apicture removably, and to rest on an article of furnilture'or to hang ena-"wall, and designed to present an ornamental appearance.

In" frames 'of this type, the frame proper or body is usually'made of metal, L-shaped in cross-section. A back supported by an easel ordesigned to be hung up, as on a wall, is inserted into the frame for the purpose of holding the glass' and picture in proper position. YThe back is usually made of wood, cardboard and comparatively inexpensive composition. y

board of various types, and is often completelyV covered' with velvet or other ornamental material cemented thereto by. a suitable cement or glue. Such backs, however, due to the action of the glue, cement, moisture or ,at`

mospheric conditions, mayv become warped '3; and shrink or otherwise 'change their shape and size', resulting not only in spoiling the good appearance of the frame, but 1n such a` poor fitj ofthe parts that the frame members are insecurely held together,withrresulting danger ot' damage. Since such frames'are used largely torornamental purposes, avremedy seeking to prevent warpin'gof the back has longbeen sought. f i

My invention contemplates back that'danger of warping. thereof for any reason is"V permanently eliminated, and the parts may it .the frame properly` at all times and under all normal conditions.

My invention further contemplates the'provision of means for so supporting the frame of the standing type, that the bottom edge of the metallic portion of the frame does not at anytime come in contact with the article on which it rests, thereby avoiding mutilation of the supporting surface. i

The .various objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows and from the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an easel frame to which one form yof'iny invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a similar view 'of the reinforced back and easel as they appear before the velvet covering has been applied thereto.

4the provision` of means for soreinforcing and bracing the lesal serial No. 364,356.

' f Fig. 3 .a vertical sectionV ofthe lower portion 'of the frame, taken on the line3-3 ofv f of 'the saine.

Fig. 6 isa rear elevational viewof a modi? fied pi'orm of. a frame' embodying my invention. g c

F ig. 7 is a vertical sectionfthereoiand 'Fig S is a perspectiveview of myv ini-f sILvEn oo.,

proved back member, showing a, modiied,

'orin of reinforcing means therefor.l

` lnthe practiealembodiment of myinvention whichgl' have illustrated by way lotenV` amplegthe.usualmetallic frame is provided.I As illustrated in Figsl and 3, the frame 10 may be L-shaped in cross-section, being pro` vided with theianges 1.1 and 12, the exposed surface of said flanges being suitably ornamented if desired. For holding the back 13 inplace, I provide axdownwardly extending holding member 14 secured Vtothe rear edge of the uppermost lian'ge'12. v To the lower# most flange 120i the frame, I secure a suitable bendableclip as 15, preferably of thin metal, and adapted `to be .turned upwardly into contact with the rear facepof the back 13, and thereby to'cooperate withA the member 14 for holding the back securely in position.

To'insert'the backlinto the-frame, theilpper edge of the back isinserted in front of the member 14, the back` being tilted l:for that purpose, after which the back is swung into position inside of the frame and the clip 15 bent upwardlyf'rom its. dotted line positionshown insaid figure. f y. o

,Init/s operative position, the back is held in place'nby the members' 14 andv 15, and-preferably also byvv its frictional Contact with the inner faces of the Ylangef12,v and serves to force the picture 18 and the glass 19 lirmly in Fig. 3 to its fulll line position, illustrated desired, any easel as 16 of ,the usual type may, bef hingedly securedY to the back as at 17 in any suitable manner, as byv means of thev velvet covering,as is well known inthe art.

yagainst the inner face of the flange 11. ItV

ieY

pressed contact therewith. As illustrated in e.

Figs. 2, 3, and l, said metallic members as and dl are preferably made of thin sheet metal conforming to the shape ofthe edge portion and by reason of their shape, resisting distortion ofthe back in all directions. rIhe covering 22 forthe back is suitably glued or cemented thereto, preferably in position outside vof and concealing the metallic members 2O and 2i, which if so. concealed, may be made of'coinparatively inexpensive material. i

As shown in Fig'. 3, the reinforcing members 2O and 2l may be pressed into the material of the back so as to becomeflush or even with the surfaces thereof.

As shown in Fig.V l, ho; ever,fsaid members 20 and 21 may merely be bent about the edge into pressed Contact ywith the faces of the back, the covering concealing said reinforcingl members. A

VAs shown in Fig. 5, the velvet covering 22 K may lirst be secured to` thebacl and thereafter, `ithe' reinforcing member 23 secured about theedges of the back so as to remain substantially visible. Y. In thisfcase, I prefer.

to make said members 23 more or less ornamental, so as to enhance the pleasing appearance of the frame, which isof major impor- Y tance in articles of the type to which this inventi'on pertains. As illustrated in Fig. 8, theV reinforcing member .24 may Aassume the form of a thin metallic sheet having one face 25 completely orpsubstantially covering one face of the back 13 and having peripheral channel portions 26 bent about the edge of the baci; and on to theopposite face..

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, I haveV there shown a modified form of frame to which my invention may be applied. In this modification, the flange l2 may terminate in a lip as 27 substantially parallel to the flange l1. Said flange or lip 27 extends about the sides and top of the frame 10, and may extend about the bottom thereof also, if desired. rI'he back 30 is therefore inserted into place by a vertical sliding movement past the narrowed horizontaliiange .3l1rof the lowerinosty member of the frame, and is prevented from falling out bythe lips 27. Y In this modification, I prefer to make the back 30 of suflicient length to extend below the lowermost flange 3l of the frame, whereby the entire device, in

itsl operative position rests on the edge 32 of the back, so that the flange 3l and consequently, the entire lframe is maintained above the supporting surface on which the device is intended to rest. For allowing the clip 15 to be turned up so as to hold the back in'place, I prefer to cut away the central portion of the back 30 asat 33 to form the edge 34 which is substantially in alignment with the inner face of the flange 31. f

It will be seen that as the frame is'tilted into its operative position, the edge 35 Of the easel 16 rests on the supporting surface as does the edge 32 ofthe baclnrand that no part ofthe frame can come incontact with the supporting surface and scratch or otherwise niutilate it.

It will further be seen that I have provided simple and effective means, whichv` does vnot detractfrom the good appearanCQ'f the back,y

for preventing warping thereofbr distortion in any direction, and that I have provided simple, economicalk and efficient means for the purposes intended, and which are well adapted to meet the severe requirements of practical use'. Y y l It will be understood that while Irhave illustrated Vand described certain preferred form-s of inyinvention,-I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, but I y' intend to'claimniy invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art andthe terms of the appended claims. L

l. rrllhe Vcombination with a pictureframe having abackreceiving recess, of an opaque back member of material yof vegetable origin subject to distortion under varying vconditions `of moistureand removably fitted into said recess,"a glass iitted into the recess forwardly of the member, and means'for preventing lthe kdistortion 'of the back member' comprising thin sheet metal reinforcing members permanently enclosing the peripheral portions ofthe back member and directly en'- g'aging both faces of said member and resisting change in size and deformationin all directions, the outermost dimensionsV and outline of the reinforcing members being sub .stan'tially the same as the dimensions and o'utline of the recess, and the reinforcingmem bers being secured tothe backmembe'r and forming an inseparableunitary structure 1 therewith, substantially filling the rear part l.

of the recess.` y y 2. A. supporting member 4for a 'picture frame .comprising a comparatively soft, compressible, thin, fiat, composition sheetiior4 mally subjectto distortion, means `permanently secured to said sheet against removal therefrom lfor resisting distortion of said sheet in all directions and for maintaining said sheet in its'flat state and for maintain! ingthe loutermost dimensions of said sheet permanent, comprising bendable metallic members permanently embedded into the-peripheral portions of said sheet under pressure with the'm'ajor portions` of the inner faces of said members arranged inwardly iszeesinei ofthe outer faces of the sheet and in direct contact with said peripheral portions, and a fabriccovering cemented to said sheet, said sheet, members, and covering forming a permanent unitary structure.

3,` lIn a picture frame, a frame member have ing an annular recess in the rear face thereof for the reception of a glass and a supporting member, a glass of substantially the same size as said recess, fitted thereinto, a supporting member of substantially the same size as said recess fitted thereinto rearwardly ofthe Glass for forcing said glass .toward the front-of the frame, said member comprising a comparatively thin, flat, coinpressible composition sheet normallyv subject to distortion,A means permanently secured to said sheet against removal therefrom for resisting the distortion of said sheet in all directions and for maintaining said sheet in' its Iflat state manently secured under pressure to tliepe` ripheral portions of said sheet and in pressed Contact with both faces thereof, and a covering secured to said sheet, said sheet, said metallic member and said covering forming. a permanent unitary andinseparable structure. 1

A4. In a picture frame, ainetallic frame member, means on said member for holding a back in place, including a bendable metal clip secured to the lower rear portion of said frame, a velvetcovered baclr'of compress-ible material for said frame, means permanently secured to said back for bracing the edges of said back and preventing the distortion thereof comprising thin, channel-shaped, metallic members arranged about said edges under pressure and slightly embedded into the bacg, and a velvet covered easel hinged to kthe rear face of said back.

5. In a picture frame, a metallic frame member, a glass fitted into said frame, a back.-

of compressible and distortable'material for forcing said glass toward the front of said frame, means for holding said back in place including a bendable clip at the lower portion of said frame, means independent of the edge portionfof said supporting member Aand tion at its f lower `,edge fornl 'the 5 passage of j' said clip toward the rear ofthe back,v ,-a.;

7. In a pictureframe, a frame member, a back fitted thereinto', alowerinost portion onl said. back kextending below said frame, .and Y im having a v portion thereof l.autr-away, 'and aV bendable vclip oni'said frame adaptedto-be bent into contact withthe rear 'face of thel back for maintaining said back in place.l y

8.7.Ina picture. frame, "a metallic frame 7 member substantially, rectangular in outline, means extending inwardly from the rear edge of said frame member" for guiding aback member into operative position in the framev and for holding saidback-member in place,v including a bendable clip extending rear-77, wardly from the lower part of saidv frame member, a back member inserted IolO said frame and of sufficient length to extend slight-k` ly below said frame, said back membeij'being cut` away at its lower edge for allowingthe passage of said-clip past the cut away .per tion, a glass interposed between Vthe, back member andthe Afront of the frame member and pressed by said backm'ember against said front, an` easelhinged to said ,back member@ andcooperating therewithV to support theV frame member above a horizontal supporting surface, a velvet-coveringfor saidbarck n member and said easel, cementitiousumaterial securingsaidicoverto said back member and said easel, a channel-shaped, thin. me.

tallie member securedto andl enclosing'thef edge yofsaid backfmember for resisting-dis# v tortion of said baclrmember, and a similar metallic member forfsaid easel. 9. In a picturelframe having a rear annu lar recesstherein, acompliativelysoft, disw tortable, and -compressible member,` andrdis t tortion .preventingmeans for said member` of substantially the same size and shape as,`v said recessy .adapted-to be removably'fitted. into the recess and comprisingria metallic member pressedtoward andfenclo'sin'g .an

im in pressed. contact therewith -tof form a per--v marient inseparable edgeclosure-therefor and a unitary` structure therewith.

10. In a picture frame, a metallic frame member substantially rectangular in outline, a back member inserted into said frame member and of sufficient length to extend slightly below said frame member, means extending inwardly from therear edge of said frame member for lholding said back member lin place,y including a bendable metallic clip eX- tending rearwardly from the lower part of said frame member, said back Vmember being Y v cut away at its lower edge for allowing the iis vpassage of said clip past the cut away portion, a glass interposed between the back member and the front of the frame member and pressed by said back member against the front, a velvet covering for saidback memt ber, and cenieiititi'oiis material securing said cover to said back member?.

l1. Ina picture iframe, a metallic frameV member including a front flange anda side fiange extending rearwardly from the front flange and substantially at right angles there# Y to to provide a back-receiving recess, afmetallic bendable clip secured to one of said flangesand extending rearwardly therefrom and arranged With the front part thereof in saidrecess, a substantially rigid back niember of, comparatively soft distortable" and Y compressible material fitted into said recess andA adapted to engage the side anges ofl 5 the frame, means for maintaining the outer vdimensions of said back member against change and for preventing distortion of said back member under varying conditions of moisture comprising a channel-shaped thin' metallic member having the flanges thereof pressed toward and enclosing an edge portion of the vback member to form a permanent closure therefor anda unitarystructurc therewith and afabric covering for said back membensai'd clip being adapted to have -its' rearmost portion bent parallely to the front flange and into contact with the rearface of theiback member to hold said back member against movementout of said recess.

12. The lcombination With a picture frame having a rear Vannular recess-thereimoi' a`v` supporting member, made of paper composition and 'substantially rigid While having the inherent tendency to change its size and shape under varying conditions of heat and mois-y ture, means Jfor overcoming vsaid tendency comprising a metallic binding strip for the Y edge portion oit' said sheet forming al ner-y manent inseparable closure for. said edge-poi'- tion and forming a unitary structure there-v with, the outermost dimensions and shape of said strip being substantially the same as the. dimensions 'an'dfshape ofsaid recess to substantially fill the rear partoiE said recess and to permit the member to be inserted into and removed from the recess for changing the contents of the frame. i 'Q HOWARD L. BUDD. 

